Quick-action valve.



W. M. FULTON.

QUICK ACTION VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, um.

Patented Mar. 14,1916.

2 SHE ETS-SHEET I.

- k i 4 I i UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

wnsron M. FULTON, or xNoxv LLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, mmmnssnn, A'coRronA'rIon or MAINE.

QUICK-ACTION 'vALvE.

To all whom it, may concern:

Be it known that I, WESTON M. FULTON, a citizen of'tlie United States of America, and resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Quick-Action Valves, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification. This .invention relates ,to quick action valves, and more particularly to valves of this class in which a limited rotary'movement of the valve stem causes a multiplied rectilinear movement of the valve member.

Heretofore valves have been given a quick action by providing the valve stem with threads of very high pitch, but valves of this type present the disadvantage of opening unexpectedly and particularly when they are located in pipe lines subject to jars and vibrations. The valve stemhas also been provided with right and left-hand threads whereby the valve moves on the valve stem while the latter raises and lowers by turning the stem. The increase in movement in valves of this kind is limited to twice the longitudinal movement of the stem and is not as rapid as-often desired even when the threads are of steep pitch, the use of which introduces other difficulties as above noted.

My-invention overcomes the above objections and consists, generally stated, in providing a valve with a plurality of rotatable sections arranged in series or alinement, each of which sections is rotatably connect ed to a slidable non-rotating nut. This rotatable connection of the section to the nut may be effected in a variety of ways. For example, each section may be provided with a suitable collar turning in an annular interior groove within the nut, but preferably this connection is secured by providing a thread on the nut engaging the corresponding thread on the section. These sections with the nuts thus connected to them are arranged in alinement and each of the nuts on one section engages screw-threads on the The inventive idea may be embodied in a variety of mechanical forms, some of which are shown by way of example in the ac- Specification of Letters ZPatent.

Patented Mar. 14,1916.

Application filed June 29, 1914. I Serial No. 848,042.

companying drawings which are intended to assist the description but are not intended to define the limits thereof.

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinalcentral section of a valve provided with my im-. provements; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of parts of the multiplylng devlce; Fig. 5 is a view in longitudinal central section showing my improvements in connection with a globe valve with packed. valve stem; and Fig. 6 is a view in central section showing a modified form of the multiplying device.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, 1 is a valve casing having the usual threaded inlet 2 and outlet 3 and a partition 4 having a valve-controlled opening 5. Extending from one side of the casing 1 is a housing 6 open tothe valve casing at one end and closed at the opposite end by a screw cap 7. Secured between the under side of the cap 7 and the end of the housing wall is'a flange 8 soldered or brazed to the end of a corrugated collapsible and expansible tubular wall 9. The lower end of this tubular wall is closed by ahead 10 which'is depressed into funnel form/andterminates in a button-shaped enlargement on which is supported a valve ring carrier 11. Within the tubular wall 9 and supported from cap 7 are guideways 12, 12, Fig. 3, preferably the nuts 14 is interiorly threaded with low- I pitch threads for connection with rotatable sections 22, the threads in one-half of each nut being right-hand and the threads-in the other half being left-hand For convenience, the upper half of each nut 14 is provided with a left-hand thread and the lower half with a right-hand thread. The cap 7 is provided with a central threaded opening for receiving a combination plug and bearing nut 16 which is adapted to be secured to the cap by screws 17 The nut 16 has an opening with smooth-bore for receiving the reduced end 18 of a key rod 19 terminating in a squared end which receives a handle member 20 secured to the key rod by a screw-washer in the usual manner. An index member 21 formed of a. projection the amount of opening of the valve.

from the handle travels over a graduated arc, not shown, on the nut 7 for indicating he main portion of key stem 19 is preferably formed hexagonal to receive sections 22 which are interiorly provided with corre.

sponding openings and are provided exteriorly with screw-threads which are righthand on the upper half of each section and" left-hand on the lower half of each section. In Fig. 4 are shown a plan view and a side view of one of these sections 22. The terminal and lowest section of this series is lengthened into a hollow stem 23 which ends in a head 24 around which the head 10 folds and is also preferably provided with a collar 25 for cotiperating in securing the'stemto the end wall. To prevent the sections 14 from leaving their guides, pins 26 are inserted in the end of the guide tube 13. These pins also'act to confine the wall within its elastic limits in one direction, while the nut 16 serves a like pu'rpose in the opposite direction. A spring disk 27 is preferably interposed between the valve ring carrier 11 and the valve-operating means to cushion the seating of the valve.

Assuming the parts of the device to have been assembled and the valve in seated position, the operation is as follows :To open the valve, the handle 20 is given a counterclockwise turn through part of a turn or, .for' convenience of explanation, through a whole turn. The hexagonal stem 19 connected to handle '20 causes sections 22 to make one complete turn. The top section 22 is thereby lifted the distance of one thread and has caused the non-revoluble nut 14 to climb one thread on top section 22 by reason of its left-hand thread engagement therewith. One revolution of top section 22 in the first non-revoluble nut 14 therefore lifts the latter two threads. With three of such nuts, the bottom nut 14 will have climbed a. distance of six threads for one turn of the handle 20. The last rotatable section which is extended into a stem 23 rises one thread in the lowest non-rotatable nut and therefore the valve 11 is lifted 'seven threads for one'turn of the handle 20. From the above, it will be evident that the "rotation of the valve handle or wheel effects a multiplied or increased movement of the valve to any desired extent, without the use 'of threads of high pitch or use of cumbersome levers, and that the principle can be applied to valves of any size, style or type.

While I have above shown the valve-operating device in connection with the nonpacked type of valve, I may use it in connection with'a packed valve stem, as shown m Fig. 5, wherein is illustrated a globe valve of the usual type, to the casing of which is secured a housing or bonnet 27 in any desired manner, such as by means of a union fluid-tight joint with the valve casing.

1 Slide-ways 30 are cut on the interior walls of this bonnet for receiving the lugs of non-rotatable nuts 14 which are identical in form with those above described in connection with Fig. 1 and coiiperate with sections 22 rotated by a hexagonal key stem 19 on which they slide. The key stem in this type of valve has a long reduced cylindrical portion 31 which passes through packing 32 contained in an end recess of the bonnet and held there by a suitable follower 33 and screw cap 34. In order to hold the stem 31 yieldingly in place while permittin free dom of rotation, a yoke 35 is provide which has the ends of its arms pivoted on screws 36, 37 entering the sides of the bonnet and is made fast in position by fillister headed screws 38, 39. A slot 40 is formed in the cross member of the yoke and receives the round stem 31 of the key member. A loosethe same manner as the one just described and therefore its description will not be repeated.

To renew the packing, fillister headed screws 38, 39 are removed and the yoke 35 is turned down, thereby giving access to the cap 34 and parts of the packing box. After packing, the yoke is returned to its original pos1tion and fastened by returning the screws 38 and 39.

While I prefer to connect the nuts and sections as above described I may connect them by means of a collar and make the threads either all right-hand or all lefthand. In Fig. 6, I have shown a series of key-operated sections all having the same kind of threads. Each rotatable section 46 is provided with a collar 47 which fits in afiannular recess formed-in any suitable manner in the wall of each non-rotatable section, as indicated diagrammatically in the drawings. With this arrangement of sections, the rotation of the key stem 19 through one turn causes the upper non-rotatable nut to climb one thread on its rotatable section, the second non-rotatable nut two threads and so on. The valve, which may be as- Y sumed to be attached to the lowest rotatable section, will rise for one turn of the stem as many threads as there are non-revoluble sections. The movement of the valve wheel gives less movement of the valve for a given extent of rotation than .in the form first described, but still retains the advantage of multiplying or increasing the movement imparted to the valve handle or wheel.

What is claimed is 1. In a quick action valve, the combination of a valve member and means for operating the same comprising a plurality of longitudinally slidable non-rotatable nuts each having right-hand threads at one end and left-hand threads at the other, a plurality of sections provided with corresponding right and left-hand threads engaging said nuts, and means for rotating said sections.

2. In a quick action valve, the combination of a valve member and means for operating the same comprising a plurality of sections arranged in alinement with the adjacent end portions of said sections provided the one with a right and the other with a left-hand screw-thread, slidable non-rotatable nuts provided with right and lefthand threads at their respective ends for connecting said sections, and means for rotating said sections.

3. In a quick action valve, the combination of a valve member and means for operating the same comprising two rotatable sections arranged in alinement with their adjacent ends provided the one with a right and the other with a left-hand screw-thread, a non-rotatable slidable nut, having screwthreads engaging the screw-threadson the adjacent ends of said sections, and means for rotating said sections.

4:. In a quick action valve, the combination of a valve member and means for operating the same, comprising rotatable threaded sections one of which has a connection with said valve member, a non-rotatable ating the same comprising a plurality of threaded sections and means fOQiSlIH'llltfihB- ously rotating the same, and a slidable nonrevoluble nut connecting adjacent sections whereby rotation of said sections causes a longitudinal cumulative movement between I the nuts and sections.

6. In a quick action valve, the combination of a valve member and means for operating the same comprising a plurality of key-operated rotatable threaded sections,

and a slidable non-rotatable nut connecting adjacent sections, whereby rotation of said sections causes longitudinal cumulative movement between the nuts and sections.

7. In combination with a valve member, a plurality of slidable non-revoluble nuts each having right and left hand threads, a plurality of key operated sections having threads engaging the respective right and left hand threads of said nuts, said valve member being connected to one of said sec tions.

8. In a quick action valve, the combination of a flexible wall, a valve member connected to said wall, means for flexing said wall between predetermined limits to effect movement of said valve comprising rotatable threaded sections arranged in alinement, non-rotatable slidable nuts each secured to one of said sections and provided with threads engaging the screw-threads on the next adjacent section, stop means limiting the movement of said nuts, andmeans for rotating said sections.

9. In a quick action valve, the combination of a flexible wall, a valve member connected thereto and means for flexing said wall between predetermined limits to effect movement of said valve comprising rotatable threaded sections arranged in alinement, non-rotatable slidable nuts each secured to one of said sections and provided with threads engaging the threads on the next adjacent section, guides in which said ating'the same, comprising rotatable threaded sections one of which has a connection with said valve member, a non-rotatable slidable nut connecting said sections and having a screw thread engaging one of said sections, a corrugated flexible wall surrounding said operatingmeans and having an end closure adapted to follow the movement of said valve member, and means for rotating said sections.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WESTON M. FULTON.

I Witnesses:

H. T. PAT'roN, H. SLMcCov.

tion of a valve member and means for oper- 

